Tom Piras

[freeflyfree 0]

Thomas Piras, So what was that got to people, I know he didn't turn his cypres ON, but besides that, I hear people saying stuff like "he showed us how it was done...untile he went in", or stuff like that, what was he like? how influential was he, I never met him, but I know people that did...what's the story?

Felipe.

--
Blue Skies
NO FEARS, NO LIMITS, NO MONEY...
"A Subitánea et Improvísa Morte, Líbera nos, Domine."

[nigel99 619]

I was a student at the time and what I remember was the local skygods (I was in Africa) were in total shock that 'the' skygod could be killed due to a freefall collision.

It didn't change our attitude to aad though.

Experienced jumper - someone who has made mistakes more often than I have and lived.

[Remster 30]

He was, at the time, probably the best skydiver in the world.

Remster

[JohnMitchell 16]

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I was a student at the time and what I remember was the local skygods (I was in Africa) were in total shock that 'the' skygod could be killed due to a freefall collision.

It didn't change our attitude to aad though.

I remember not really being too shocked, just dismayed at another fatality. Anyone who's jumped with students knows (or should know) they can kill you if you let them. Tom's scenario is why I prefer to never be in the air with more than one noobie at once.

It DID start a dialogue about AAD's and how you should use them. I remember Cypres's ad in Parchutist saying "Just turn it on in the morning and forget about it. "

When I bought my first AAD years ago my DZO/gear dealer questioned why I, an experienced jumper, was buying one. I said "I'd feel really stupid going in with $1200 left in my checking account." That, of course, was the purchase price back then for an AAD.

[DrewEckhardt 0]

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I was a student at the time and what I remember was the local skygods (I was in Africa) were in total shock that 'the' skygod could be killed due to a freefall collision.

It didn't change our attitude to aad though.

I remember not really being too shocked, just dismayed at another fatality. Anyone who's jumped with students knows (or should know) they can kill you if you let them. Tom's scenario is why I prefer to never be in the air with more than one noobie at once.

It DID start a dialogue about AAD's and how you should use them. I remember Cypres's ad in Parchutist saying "Just turn it on in the morning and forget about it. "

When I bought my first AAD years ago my DZO/gear dealer questioned why I, an experienced jumper, was buying one. I said "I'd feel really stupid going in with $1200 left in my checking account." That, of course, was the purchase price back then for an AAD.

Although a handful of DZOs thought having one was a good idea and sold them at cost to jumpers, which was $850-$950 depending on how the dollar was doing against the Deutsche Mark.

[SkydiveJack 1]

Tommy did have a Cypres on his rig but it was not turned on. He was jumping with a very low experienced jumper down in Panama.

He is alleged to have quietly joked to another experienced jumper on the climb to altitude that he should have turned it on. The guy he was jumping with flew into him at high speed and knocked him out. Tommy apparently came to and pulled (don’t remember if it was main or reserve) just before impact.

I personally believe that this accident removed any remaining resistance on the part of all experienced jumpers/old timers about the value of AAD’s on RW jumps. So in his death, Tommy has saved the lives of many, many of our friends.

And love him or hate him, he was probably the best skydiver of his day.

[JohnMitchell 16]

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Although a handful of DZOs thought having one was a good idea and sold them at cost to jumpers, which was $850-$950 depending on how the dollar was doing against the Deutsche Mark.

Damn, wish I coulda found one of them, and taken my change in jump tickets.